eventually wife was named fia instead of fio, she ended up having to pay $363,000 in an inheritance tax but her wife -- when her wife passed away. if she had been married to a man, that wouldn't have been the case because the law protects inheritance for married couples. so federal government treated her and her spouse, even as a legal stranger, with the state of new york saw them as legally married. >> bill: today marc, final question. we learned yesterday it was claire mccaskill, today is it is mike warner and mark begich, two more united states senators have come out in support of marriage equality. i know -- >> one more. we have rockefeller yesterday as well. >> bill: jay rockefeller yesterday. thank you. so i know you're pleased as am i. are you surprised at how fast the tide is turning on this issue? >> i would say you know, it is turning quickly. historically, very quickly. you know, i guess in some ways, i'm not surprised because it just seems so american. >> bill: right. so obvious too. why is it such a big issue. you've been working at it a long time. and hopefully with the --